For Immediate Release.
London 2026
Charities unite for Children’s Mental Health Week to champion the power of belonging
Place2Be is shining a spotlight on the important impact of belonging on children’s mental health for this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week (9-15th February) with the theme ‘This Is My Place’.
In a powerful show of connection, 15 leading charities and organisations from The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, Centrepoint, Football Beyond Borders and more have all joined forces in a new montage film celebrating the role of supportive communities in helping children and young people thrive.
Recent government data[1] highlights the critical importance of belonging for young people. Secondary pupils who reported feeling a sense of belonging “most” or “every day” also reported higher motivation to learn and better school attendance. However, the findings reveal a worrying increase in loneliness among older pupils in years 7 to 11 responding they feel lonely some of the time or often (56%), while a large majority of pupils in years 12 and 13 (68%) said the same. Families are under strain. Services are stretched thin. Modern life is fast, distracted and demanding. Third sector organisations work every day to create safe, inclusive spaces where children and young people can truly be themselves, but they too are under enormous resource pressures at the very moment communities need them most.
Place2Be emphasises that belonging – whether in friendships, schools, families or wider communities – is foundational. It influences confidence, resilience, physical and mental health, academic success, and future opportunities.
This Children’s Mental Health Week encourages families, schools, and community organisations to create nurturing, inclusive environments where all children and young people feel seen, heard and accepted.
Jacqui Segal, Director of Fundraising, Communications and Marketing at Place2Be, said:
“We know from our data that many children seek support for social and emotional issues, and we’re seeing this increase in our drop-in sessions. When children experience belonging and connection, it provides safety and security, helping them develop resilience and the tools to navigate challenges. This Children’s Mental Health Week, we’re calling on everyone – families, schools, and communities – to help build a culture of inclusion so children and young people can thrive.”
Place2Be is encouraging families, educators and community groups across the UK to take part by fundraising for Place2Be and accessing free resources, activities and top tips designed to help children feel a stronger sense of belonging.
Visit: www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk
About Place2Be:
Contact the Place2Be Press team on [email protected] for more information, images, B roll, stories or interviews
Any child names have been changed.
About Place2Be. Place2Be is a leading children’s mental health charity providing school-based support and in-depth training programmes to improve the emotional wellbeing of pupils, families, teachers and school staff, enabling children and young people to thrive. The charity currently provides an embedded mental health service in 650 UK primary and secondary schools, supporting a school community of around 350,000 children and young people. place2be.org.uk/
HRH The Princess of Wales became Patron of Place2Be in 2013, reflecting her personal interest in and commitment to improving children’s mental health.
About Children’s Mental Health Week: Launched by Place2Be in 2015, Children’s Mental Health Week aims to equip, empower and give voice to children across the UK. Each year, Place2Be’s clinical experts develop free resources and activities to encourage schools, families and organisations to take part in the week and have important conversations about mental health.
Children’s Mental Health Week is kindly supported with funds raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and awarded by Postcode Children Trust, and Findel, a leading supplier of education resources. Learn more and access free resources at childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk.
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